Sewing Storage

My sewing storage got a little upgrade with some new IKEA pieces.  I purchased Borgsjo shelf units in brown, which coordinates well with my dark walnut flooring.

The shelves in the left cabinet hold a bin containing trim, a box of lace, and a box of patterns. The boxes are the type that hold reams of paper (nice and sturdy!) covered with self-adhesive paper to make them prettier.

This size box works well for patterns.

(Though I keep frequently used patterns clipped to a hanger in the closet so that I don't have to iron the pattern pieces flat every time I want to use them.) 

The upper shelves hold my sewing tote along with boxes of ribbon, trim, notions, etc.

The shelves in the right cabinet hold my fabric stash (which is currently quite small!). I always pre-wash my cottons before adding them to the stash so that I can pull them out and use them whenever the mood strikes. Every piece of fabric has a label pinned to it so that I can tell at a glance how many yards I have without having to unfold the fabric.

A set of Antonius sliding baskets hold my scrap stash (which is currently quite large!). Pieces of fabric smaller than one yard are rolled up and rubber banded. This keeps the scraps tidy and allows me to easily find what I'm looking for.

I need to get creative and find ways to use all those scraps!  :)

A Nice, Hot Shower. Or Not.

When I left my last job, I had to put house projects on hold until I had an income again. Top of the list to be finished the moment I have the funds is my bathroom. In particular, the shower needs major help.

The tub/shower handles have been a real nuisance for a while now. They keep getting more and more difficult to turn. Even better, the cold water handle sometimes turns itself off, which makes for a REALLY HOT shower. The only way to prevent the cold water from turning itself off is to turn it on full blast, which makes for a REALLY COLD shower. If I fiddle with the handles enough -- five or even ten minutes -- I can finally get them to settle down and provide water of a tolerable temperature.

I had the same problem about two years ago. In an adventure much like the one TanteFledermaus posted about here and here, I tried replacing the faucet stems. This was tricky, especially trying to work with mechanisms inside a wall, and eventually I had to call in a professional. The new handles worked fine for a year or so, then started up with their old tricks. :(  I don't want to have to constantly replace the stems. I want to install a newer type faucet that is easier to use and doesn't wear out so quickly. That is definitely a job for a pro.

As if "auto-scald" handles weren't enough, things got even more interesting last night. See the hose and the showerhead here...

They are supposed to be connected to each other. And until last night, they were. I was holding the showerhead when suddenly the hose broke free and started writhing around spraying water like an out-of-control firehose. That was fun. :P

It could have been much worse, though. I had dyed my hair, and the hose and showerhead stayed attached long enough for me to rinse it. Whew!

Luckily, showerheads are an easy DIY replacement. Good thing, too, because washing my hair in the kitchen sink is not an appealing prospect.

I have to say... reliable, comfortably hot showers are something we often take for granted. Until they're gone. :/